Wild Horse and Burro
A Branded Bonanza approved trainer begins the training process with his adopted wild horse

From Range to Ring: Wild Horses begin their journey to Branded Bonanza

Over the past 10 years, BLM Idaho has placed more than 1,000 wild horses and burros into private care through what is now known as the Forever Branded partnership. Building on the success of Mustang Mania, the program pairs approved trainers with adopted wild horses or burros in January or February, launching a months-long journey of training and preparation for competition at the Branded Bonanza event, scheduled for August 7–9 this year.
Read More
Woman with hat in front of horse picture and near an American flag.

Holle' Waddell: A woman of action, a woman of thought

By Special Contributor Paula Cook

Read More
Horses in a trap

Bait-trapping to keep wild horse and burro herds healthy

One of the ways the BLM manages this fast-paced herd growth is through bait-trap gathers. These types of gathers normally consist of setting up one or more pens on public lands and baiting horses or burros to enter the pen with food, water or some other treat, such as salt.
Read More
Three horses in a field

Living in Nirvana

Looking around the beautiful ranches these herds now called home was stirring. In the native habitat where wild horses live near us the predominant foliage is sagebrush...[but] the horses that have been relocated to off-range pastures were truly living in nirvana, with thick grass, plentiful water, and readily available natural shelter in abundance. 
Read More
Man looking at corral.

Checking in on SHANGRI-LA

Preston assesses horses in the holding pastures to assign a score measuring their body condition, identifying them by their color, markings, and the identification number they carry on their hip, experience that he gained on the job under the supervision of the veteran PIs who trained him.
Read More
Horses drinking from a puddle.

New estimates affirm continued overpopulation of wild horses and burros roaming BLM-managed public lands

The Bureau of Land Management published new population estimates of wild horses and burros roaming public lands managed by the agency. As of March 1, 2022, the BLM estimated approximately 64,604 wild horses and 17,780 wild burros were on BLM-managed lands, for a total of 82,384 animals.
Read More

Most Recent Stories